Two area chefs are headed to the final round of this year’s Fire on the Dock competition.

Chef Clarke Merrell of Circa 81 in Morehead City and Gerry Fong of Persimmons in New Bern advanced to the final round of the competition being held in Wrightsville Beach after winning semi-final battles this week.

Merrell edged out Cape Fear Country Club Chef Antoine Murray in his semi-final battle on Wednesday night, and Fong won Thursday in his semi-final against Sweet N Savory Chef Josh Petty of Wilmington.

The final battle in the Fire on the Dock kitchen will be held Wednesday, April 3.

Fong returns to the final round for a second time and Merrell is looking for a final finish after an early elimination in last year’s Fire on the Dock.

The winner of the Fire on the Dock regional event moves on to the Final Fire to battle for the statewide title in the “Got to be NC” Competition Dining Series.